Masada (The Stronghold)

Masada was the location of a massive series of palaces and storehouses designed to protect Herod in case of war.  There were gardens, a swimming pool, elaborate bath-house, cisterns (refilled by rainwater), stores, and a synagogue.  Of course only the stone remains of these elaborate structures is visible today. 

To get to Masada, we took a cable car straight up a huge desert mountain to the plateau.  It must have been an incredible challenge to get the materials up to this location to build such elaborate rooms.  That's what made it such a safe haven for Herod.  The approach was difficult.  The Romans built a ramp on the west side that is still visible today although tourists are no longer allowed access to it. The ramp gave them access to the few Jews that were still living at Masada but by the time the Roman's entered, there were none still living.  There's a lot more to this story if you want to read about it. http://www.bibleplaces.com/masada.htm

View from the cable car.....we were really crammed in and really high up!

Ally and Mimi looking down from where the palace was once located.  It stands 1300 feet above the Dead Sea which was in clear view from this location.

Masada style toilet....pretty big. There was a stream of water that flowed through slanted channels so there was the ability to flush waste.  Most toilets we saw were in one room and there were several using the same channel.  This one was private indicating the elaborate nature of this palace.

Tyler and Ally outside the visitor center at the foot of Masada.  If you look through the fog behind them you can see the Dead Sea.

The Upper Room

The Upper Room was the location of the "Last Supper" or Passover meal that Jesus shared with the disciples.  It's recorded in Luke:

Luke 22:7-20

New International Version (NIV)

The Last Supper
⁷ Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. ⁸ Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” ⁹ “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.
¹⁰ He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, ¹¹ and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹² He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”
¹³ They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

This is the Upper Room from a distance.  It's not the large building you see but the one just in front of the black dome to the left of the large building (2-story building).

This was a resident cat at the Upper Room.  It made friends with everyone and especially loved Ally.

This is the present room, which was built in the 12th century - not the original Upper Room. It is possible it stands over or near the original site of the Last Supper and/or Pentecost. This location has been taken over by Muslims and there are stained glass windows with Arabic inscriptions indicating the direction of Mecca (A city in western Saudi Arabia, considered by Muslims to be the holiest city of Islam). 

Garden of Gethsemane

At the lower part of the Mt. of Olives is the Garden of Gethsemane.  It is named for the ancient olive trees that grow there to this day.  Gethsemane was gat-shamna in Aramaic and referred to an olive press.  The Garden of Gethsemane was where Jesus brought his disciples to pray.  This is where he was arrested by the soldiers of the High Priest and taken away for indictment.

Aside from the beautiful Church of All Nations that beautifully depicts Jesus praying and agonizing over what was to come, the Garden itself is beautifully kept and there's a quietness and peacefulness within it's gates that is hard to describe.  We were lead in a brief devotional and then given an opportunity to walk through the Garden and pray alone.  What a moving experience!  The song, "I Come to the Garden Alone" was on my mind and still is everytime I think about being in that wonderful place. 

I Come To The Garden Alone Lyrics
I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The son of God discloses.

And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.

He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet that the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.

I'd stay in the garden with Him
'Tho the night around me be falling
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling

And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.

This is Tyler walking through the Garden.  Just about where he's standing, you can look to the right (his right) and see the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem where Christ will return one day.  I was warmed by the thought that Jesus prayed in this place as he looked upon the city gate where He will one day return. 

Ezekiel 43:7

New International Version (NIV)

⁷ He said: “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever.

Ezekiel 44

The Priesthood Restored

¹ Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east, and it was shut. ² The LORD said to me, “This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered through it. ³ The prince himself is the only one who may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence of the LORD. He is to enter by way of the portico of the gateway and go out the same way.”

Mt. of Olives

Jesus spent quite a bit of time in the Mount of Olives area during his ministry because as he traveled to the city of Jerusalem he would stay with friends at Bethany.  On his way to and from the city he would pass through the Mount of Olives. 

As Jesus stood on the Mount of Olives, he was able to look onto the Temple Mount.  This picture is taken while standing on the Mount of Olives.  Jesus could see the Temple here - now there's a Mosque (gold dome).  Just beyond the dome is calvary.  So much of what was to come, Jesus could ponder while spending time at the Mount of Olives.  He taught his disciples here and prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem.  This is also the location where Zechariah prophecied the End of Days: "And his feet shall stand in that day upon the  Mt. of Olives" (Zec.14:4).

Luke 19: 37-41
 ³⁷ When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

 ³⁸ “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”^[a]
   “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
 ³⁹ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
   ⁴⁰ “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
 ⁴¹ As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it

Just above the row of trees (middle of picture) there is a black dome.  This is a church built on the site where Jesus stood and wept as he looked on to the city of Jerusalem and in particular the Temple. (Luke 19: 37-41) 

Another view of the city of Jerusalem from the Mt. of Olives. Many are burried here so that in the end times, they can be right where the Savior returns.  Notice the stones on the caskets signifying that "even the stones will cry out".

This is a 2000+ year old olive tree.  Quite possible Jesus walked right under this tree.  Pretty amazing!

This is a view of the Mt. of Olives from the Temple Mount.  The church in the picture is the
Church of "All Nations" built between 1919 and 1924 using funds donated from many different countries. The Garden of Gethsemene is just beside the church. The countries that provided funds for this Roman Catholic church are honored in the domes of the ceiling. The US seal is one of the first you see as you enter the church.  Within the church is a rock surrounded by a crown of thorns made of wrought iron.  It's the rock of agony upon which Jesus prayed before his arrest.
 

Bethlehem

The visit to Bethlehem was very eye opening.  The city is now walled in and protected by Isrealite guards.  The citizens of Bethlehem are Christian and Muslim Arabs so we were in Palestinian territory.  Our Jewish guide had to find a hidden place on the bus to enter the city with our group.

Once inside the city, it looked very poor and vacated.  Unfortunately with the walls protecting Israel from threats, the people have no one coming and going into their city to improve their economy.  A big tour bus like ours coming in brought out all the street vendors and beggars which was pretty sad.  There was a great store that we were literally the only ones inside, it was The Olive Tree Factory.  This is where we met Mr. Nissan and his family.  They hosted us for lunch later in the day as well (pictures below).

Of course you can't go to Bethlehem without visiting the Church of the Nativity which is built over the place marking the birth of Jesus.  This city holds other significant meaning too in that nearly 4000 years ago, Jacob buried his young wife Rachel here (Gen. 35: 16-19) and this was the home of Naomi and her family.  Bethlehem was also where Ruth gleaned in the fields and fellin love with Boaz (Ruth 2) and their great-grandson David was born here too. 

Entrance into the Church of the Nativity.  You had to duck to get in and this was for several reasons.  One reason was because battles were waged with soldiers on horseback. This prevented horses from entering (you can see the earlier doorway arch that was sealed up).  Other reasons we heard were that the bowing required to enter the church was in reverance to the birth of Christ.  Another said it was the narrow opening signifying the narrow road that leads to the Kingdom of Heaven.  I presume many can come up with more reasons but the main reason for the building is to protect the birth place of our Lord.  We were reminded not to worship the site but the reason for the site being here in the first place!

Although the church was built over the stable where Christ was born and it is difficult to imagine what it was originally like, you can still see the stable ceiling which helps one to get a better perspective.

Mr. Nissan and his brothers hosted our groups in their beautiful restaurant.  The food was delicious and the hospitality perfect.  Our bus captain's wife Melissa had a birthday on this day in Bethlehem and Mr. Nissan had several cakes brought out for her so we could all enjoy. 

This marks the place where Jesus was born.  This was inside a very small room that was originally the stable.

Mt. of Precipitation and Nazareth

On the south side of Nazareth is the Mt. of Precipitation (Mt. of Precipice) that has a beautiful view of the Jezreel Valley which was a valued piece of land because of it crossed major roads.  Throughout the ages, many battles have taken place here.  The Jezreel Valley was known for its fertile land but neglected over the years, it turned into swamp land.  Reclaimed by Jewish settlers, the valley has transformed back into fertile farmland and is still considered Israel's bread basket.

The scripture reference to the Mt. of Precipice comes from Luke where Jesus had given a sermon in the synagogue and the congregation (being offended at the truth he spoke) wanted to hurl him down the hill and kill him.  Some say he lept from the mountian but the Bible says this:

Luke 4:28-30 (New International Version, ©2010)

 ²⁸ All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. ²⁹ They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. ³⁰ But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.




View of Nazareth from the Mt. of Precipitation. 

 


A view of the western side of Nazareth.





Dad and Tyler standing on the Mt. of Precipitation.  The Jezreel Valley is behind them.

 


Our family standing on the Mt. of Precipitation where the people from the synagogue in Nazareth tried to throw Jesus off the cliff.  The Jezreel Valley is behind us.



Beth Shean

Also known as Bet Shean, Bet Shan and Beth Shan.

Although Jesus never visited Beth Shean (in fact he walked around it when travelling), this was one of the most fascinating historic sites in my opinion.  Excavations in this city show 18 levels of occupation.  This was a thriving place at one time because of it's central location between roads that went north to Syria, east to Jordan, south to Egypt and west to the Mediterranean.  The views we have pictured below is only about a 10th of what scholars estimate the actual size of the city to have been back in the time of Christ. 

One very significant scripture reference to Beth Shean is found in 1 Samuel 31 when the Israelites lead by Saul were defeated by the Philistines.  Rather than be killed by the enemy, Saul fell on his own sword.  Three of his sons had already been killed.  Pick up the scripture here:

1 Samuel 31:8-10 (The Message)

 ^8-10 The next day, when the Philistines came to rob the dead, they found Saul and his three sons dead on Mount Gilboa. They cut off Saul's head and stripped off his armor. Then they spread the good news all through Philistine country in the shrines of their idols and among the people. They displayed his armor in the shrine of the Ashtoreth. They nailed his corpse to the wall at Beth Shan.





This would have been the main street of the city with stately columns leading to the spas and bath houses.  Mosaic tile floors are still visible.  This road is angled to drain water and given it's appearance close up it was where the chariots travelled.

 



This was quite a climb but worth it!  This mud wall is the very wall that Saul and his sons were hung over to be on display to the city of Beth Shean.

 


This is a view of the city from the theatre.  In the distance is the mountain where the mud wall is located (see top right).




View of the city and excavation sites from the hilltop.




The tents are where new excavation is taking place.  Again, what we are seeing is just a 10th of the actual size of Beth Shean in the days of Christ.